Nigel delighted at new Government powers to veto wind farms

Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams says he is delighted at new Government powers to veto wind farms and halt the spread of turbines across the countryside.
Nigel Adams introduced a bill in Parliament earlier this year calling for the abolition of subsidies for onshore windfarms and the Conservative Government has now delivered on this by announcing that there will be no further subsidies for new windfarms from 2016.

The Government has also announced new planning guidance designed to ensure local residents have the final say over onshore wind farm applications and turbines will no longer imposed on communities who do not want them.

Under the planning changes, all onshore wind farm applications will be decided at local level, rather than national authorities dealing with the biggest projects.

There will also be two new “planning tests” so that councils can only approve wind farms on sites that have been clearly designated as part of any local or neighbourhood plan, and where the proposed project has the backing of the local community.

Nigel Adams commented: “I am delighted that the new Conservative government has acted quickly to help stop the unwanted spread of inappropriately sited windfarms. This is a good day for those potentially affected by such an application and a good day for the campaign that myself and several Conservative colleagues have been leading in Parliament.”

Greg Clark, the Communities Secretary, added: “Our One Nation approach is about backing people on the issues that really matter to them and we are today delivering on our commitment to give local people the final say over onshore wind farm applications.”

Amber Rudd, the Energy Secretary said: “We will drive forward our commitment to end the public subsidy for onshore wind farms. Onshore wind is an important part of our energy mix but we now have enough projects in the pipeline to meet our renewable energy commitments.”